Safety attachment for tire-chains.



D. L. RECTENWALD.

SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR TIRE CHAINS- APPLICATION FILED MN 1, I917- Patente July 24:, 191?.

2 SHEETSSHEET I- J WWW Fa a. 2

WITNESSES LVVAYVTOR- A TTORNEV.

APPLICATIQH FILED MAY ll 19!!- ml 1 9 1 A1 2 y M u d W m mm P 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- In the accompanying drawings,- Figure 1 resident of Pittsburgh,

eras a DANIEL L. nnc'rnivwenn, or PITTS URGH, rnnivsvnvama SAFETY ATTACHMENT Fon TIRE-orients.

I To all whom it may concern a safety attachan attachment which may be securedto a tire chain of a usual construction; andwhich serves to prevent loss of the tire chain upon 1 breakageor unfastening-of the same, by per mitting it to slip completely from the wheel I of the vehicle to which it is applied and by causing it to be dragged behind the vehicle from the axle or brake-drum thereof in such with or knock against the wheel or other position that it does not become entangled parts ofthe vehicle. A further object of the invention is to provide means, of the nature above indicated, which may readily 1 and tire chain; and which is also simple in be attached to or detached from the vehicle construction, inexpensive to manufacture,

and will not under any contingency cause "injury to the axle or other parts of the ve,

hide to which it is applied.

is an inner elevation of an automobile wheel,

' showing a tire chain and the safety attachtachment upon-breakage or unfastening of. 40

' 6 is of light construction,

ment in position thereon; Fig. 2 is a sub-. stantially diagrammatic section through the 7 wheel; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view illus trating the position assumed by the tire chain and the various members of the atthe tire chain.

The tire chain 1, which is of usual form, is shown as applied to the wheel 2 of a power propelledvehicle, and consists of an outer side chain 3, an inner side chain 4, and a plurality of cross connecting chains 5.

The safety attachment proper comprises a ring 6 and spring members 7 for supporting the ring from the inner side chain memher 4 of the tire chain, and a chain, or other suitable flexible member 8, for securing the side chain member 4 to the ring 6. The ring and is a split or breakable ring in order to permit of its being placed in position surrounding the axle 9 of the vehicle, As shown the ring is formed of wire which is light but is of a Specification oi? Letters Extent.

7 Application filed May 1 1317.

, lfooks 14, thereon readily Patented m 2a, 1917. SeriaLNo. 165,705,

moderate degree of stiffness, and is provided at its ends with eyes 10 and 11 arranged to be connected by a suitable snap book 12. The ring may thus be passed around the axle 9 and its ends joined to form an unbroken ring-surrounding the axle. When in this position, the mug is' supported out of contact with the axle and brake-drum of the vehicle by means of the spring members 7, each of which is provided at one ex tremity with an eye 1? surrounding and slidable upon the ring 6, and at its other extremity with an open hook 14 which is passed through one of the links of the side chain 4. The tire chain 1 is secured to the ring 6 by means-of the chain 8, through a link of which the ring 6 is passed, and which is provided with a snap hook 15 which engages one of the links of'the side chain 4.

Normally, therefore, with the tire chain in position on the tire, and the parts connected and in the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the ring 6 is supported out of contact with the axle by means of the spring members 7, and since these spring members, together with themhain 8, are arrangedjto slide upon the ring the device has little or nojefi'ect upon the position of the tirshain '(in ,the tire. In case, however, of abreakage of one of the side chain members 3 and ,4, or of the breakage or unfastening of the-tire chairnconn ec tions, the tire chain as a whole/will tend toslide off the wheel 2. This tendency is not resisted by the spring or'supporting members 7, since the open 7 become disengaged from 'the side chain 4: and the tire chain as 41 whole is permitted to fall from the wheel.

Under these conditions, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the ring (3 rides upon the axle 9, or the brake drum, of the vehicle and the spring members 7 depend in disconnectcd position therefrom, while the tire chain, which is "securely connected to the ring by means of the chain 15, is dragged behind the tended position well out of of the parts of the vehicle.

The device above described prevents the loss of a tire chain through breakage or disconnection of the same and at the same time permits it to slide completely from the wheel, so that neither the wheel nor the chain itself can be injured, nor the wheel or other part of the'vehiclc marred, as might vehicle in an excontact with any 8 and snap hook occur through a partial disengagement of ,to be dragged in an extended position, so

- that it does not form a sack or net such as -would be apt to swing against the vehicle wheel or catch in obstructions in the roadway.

The ring 6 is preferably made of wire which is stifi enough to resist deformation when held in position by means of its connections with the tire chain, but which is of sufficiently light construction to permit it to be readily broken, if the chain being dragged should catch in any firmly seated object. Danger of injury to the vehicle'axle because of any sudden and severe pull or wrench is thus avoided. In constructing the device, the diameter of the ring may be obviously so regulated that it will surround the brake-drum of the vehicle to which it is tolbe applied, the length of the spring members-Tand chain .8 being variedaccording to the relative diameter of the ring and of the vehicle wheel. i

The \device as a whole is simple and iiiexpensive in its construction, is capable of being rapidly attached or detached; and. performs the novel function of preventing loss of a tire chain upon breakage or unfastening of the same, While permitting it p to slip completely from the wheel.

What I claim is v 1 1. A safety attachment for tire chains comprising a tire chain consisting inside and cross chain members and arranged to be applied to the tire of a vehicle wheel, a

ring arran ed to surround the axle of the vehicle, a flexible member for securingthe ring to one of the 'side chains, and a plurality of spring membersfor normally sup- 4 porting said ring from said side chain in a position surrounding said axle, the connection between each of said spring members and the chain being such that it willbe' automatically broken upon breakage or unfastening of the tire chain.

2. A safety attachment for .tirechains comprising a tire chain consisting in side .be applied to the tire of a vehicle wheel,

a ring arranged to surround the axle of the vehicle, a plurality of resilient members for normally su porting said ring fromone of said side chains, the connection between each of said resilient members and said chain being such that it will be automatically broken upon breakage or unfastening of the tire chain, and a flexible member arranged to connect the ring and tire chain irrespective of such breakage or unfastening.

' 3. A safety attachment for tire chains comprising a tire chain consisting in side and cross chain members and arranged to biz applied to the tire of a vehicle wheel, a split rin arranged to be located in position surroun ing the axle of the vehicle, a plurality of spring members for normally supporting said ring from one of said side chains out of contact with said axle, the connection between each of said spring members and said chain being such that it will be automatically broken upon breakage or unfastening of the tire chaln, and a flexible member arranged to connect the ring and .tire chain irrespective of such breakage,

whereby upon breakage or unfastening of the tire chain the rin will ride upon the vehicle axle and the chain will be dragged in extended position by'means of its con nection therewith. Y

4. A safety attachment for tire chains comprising a tire chain consisting in side and cross chain members and arranged to beapplied to the tire of a vehicle wheel, a split ring arranged to be locked in position surrounding the axle of the vehicle, a plurality of resilient arms slidable on the ring and provided with open hooks for engagement with one of the side members of the tire chain, and a flexible connecting member slidable on the ring and arranged to secure the chain thereto.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

- DANIEL L. RECTENWALII). a 8.] 

